Defined dress codes have consistently proven to be a best practice in leading healthcare organizations nationwide. Patient safety and patient satisfaction are driving changes in this area. We have found that providing a consistent and recognizable approach for patients and their family members to easily identify caregivers and hospital staff can reduce unnecessary anxiety during what can be a vulnerable and critical time.

The recent uniform initiative supports our focus on making it easier to identify our caregivers. Over the past few months, with help from our Dress Code Committee and Senior Leaders, we have taken special care to select new uniforms that will help identify our team of caregivers and hospital staff simply by looking at what we wear. We believe this change further enhances our tremendous efforts to build a culture that enhances and supports a Patient-Centered Care environment.

All employees are expected to adhere to the new Dress Code and Uniform policy. The
policy provides specific details on what is required based on the employee’s job title and
department. This will help our patients more readily identify our staff by what we wear.

In order to provide a consistent look, we have agreed to have our scrubs/uniforms embroidered with the facility logo. In order to assist patients in identifying our staff, we
will also have the scrubs embroidered with the department name. This is a key piece of
information that helps our patients identify their caregivers. To ensure consistency for
our patients across all facilities, the title/department name will be based on the approved
standard for all embroidery. Exceptions to the scrub/uniform titles are not under
consideration.

The main intent of the Uniform Initiative is to improve the ease with which patients and
their families are able to identify our team of caregivers. A key piece of this identification is the department name/logo embroidered on the scrubs/uniforms. In order to maintain the consistent appearance across our facilities, it is required that all scrubs will be embroidered with the department name/logo.

Lab Coats are designated for employees that work in specific positions and must be
approved by the department Director. This requirement supports our commitment to
ensuring that patients and families can easily identify staff.

For employees assigned to patient care areas, or where there are safety concerns, closedtoe shoes with slip-resistant soles are required. Shoes must be brown, grey, black, white
or color-matching to the scrub/uniform color; they must meet OSHA requirements.
Crocs with holes and Mary Jane’s are therefore not permitted – even if the holes are filled
with ornamentation. Orthotic shoes are fine as long as they meet color and OSHA
requirements. Additional information on this topic can be found in the policy

Scrub jackets were included as part of the dress code to ensure that employees were able
to stay warm while on duty. Additionally, shirts may be worn under the scrub top, as
long as they are black, white, or color-matching. Jackets, sweaters and other coverings
outside of what is allowed in the dress code policy will not be permitted.

All of the decisions in the Dress Code and Uniform Initiative were driven by the goal of
improving the ease with which our patients and their families are able to identify our
team of caregivers. We believe that maintaining the scrub and uniform standards every day of the year will improve the environment for our patients and their families and
increase their satisfaction. Therefore, the new dress code does not allow for wearing of
holiday apparel.

Routine “Casual days” are not included in the new Dress Code and Uniform policy. Tshirts,
sweatshirts and hoodies, even those with the hospital or department logos are not
permitted. Denim wear (jeans) are not allowed. Exceptions to these rules may be made
by Administration for certain limited and specified occasions.

The Dress Code and Uniform Policy states that body art should be covered and visible
piercing should be removed while on duty. Ear piercings are allowed but are limited to
two per ear. Requests for exceptions should be made with your Manager or Director.

The expectation is that when employees are on the clock and/or representing NFRMC,
they are in appropriate dress as detailed in the policy. When on the clock, uniforms or
dress appropriate to one’s position is required. Good judgment is expected when
determining what to wear when entering the facility for other reasons.

Production capabilities have allowed us to roll out uniforms to various departments in
stages. Uniforms were piloted with our New Beginnings departments (NICU, Labor & Delivery, PostPartum). See their picture in December’s Pulse! The next stage included
the production of uniforms with the Nursing Services logo. Employees in these areas will
receive uniforms by the end of December. Following this, production is in process for all
departments with the logos of Critical Care Services, Emergency Services, and Surgical
Services. Their uniforms will be ready for delivery in January. Production and delivery
for all other areas should be completed in the first quarter of 2014. If you are unsure of
your department’s logo name, please inquire with your Department Director

Uniform sizing events occurred onsite over the course of 6 weeks from September 23,
2013, through October 29, 2013, with LogoKick’s mini store set up in Human Resources
beginning at 7:00 am each day, in order to accommodate and provide a convenient easy
way for employees to try on and order uniforms as well as purchase extras as desired.
While these events were organized by color, it was communicated that employees could
come at anytime and be accommodated. Employees also had the option of going to the
LogoKick store at anytime to size for their uniforms. Two extra days were also added to
the original time frame to come to the LogoKick mini-store in Human Resources. And,
we extended the opportunity to go to LogoKick to size for uniforms for another 2 weeks
through November 11, 2013. The cutoff date to size for a uniform to be paid by North
Florida was November 11, 2013. Following this date, employees were informed they
would be required to purchase uniforms at their own cost. LogoKick is conveniently
located at 7265 NW 4th Blvd, Gainesville, FL, in the Home Depot shopping center off of
Tower Road (75th Street).

All new employees must pay for their uniforms. This is communicated during the onboarding process. New employees are provided an authorization form with all of the
needed information regarding color and logo which they bring to LogoKick, located
conveniently close to North Florida at 7265 NW 4th Blvd, Gainesville, FL, in the Home
Depot shopping center off of Tower Road, to purchase their uniforms. Payment is made
at LogoKick.

A uniform purchasing website is currently under design with an expected completion date
in January. This website will allow employees a simple process to purchase uniforms and
other extras using a variety of payment options. One of the options we are working to
incorporate is payroll deduction. As this process becomes finalized, communication and
additional details will go to all employees. Prior to final rollout of the website, employees
may take their badge to LogoKick if they wish to make a purchase that requires the North Florida logo. All new employees will need to take the authorization form, mentioned
above, with them to purchase a North Florida logoed uniform.

New badge formats have been discussed as part of the new Uniform & Dress code
initiative. Changing of badges will occur in sync with another project that is currently in
progress, the Visitor Management System. Details are not yet ready to be rolled out on
either of these projects so please be patient and stay tuned for more information.

Information will be posted on the 411 Intranet site; it will also be available on-line in the
careers section of nfrmc.com and in new employee orientation materials. Feel free to
contact your director or the Human Resources Department as well.